Against the Current Hong Kong 1979

Chapter 85 Selling the Script to the Xiang Brothers (4th Update, Please Subscribe)

(After seven unsuccessful revisions, I simply scrapped the previous plot and rewrote everything.)

"Hello, Mr. Zhang."

Xiang Huaqiang, however, adopted the demeanor of a humble gentleman and said very politely, "My name is Xiang Huaqiang, and this is my younger brother, Xiang Huasheng. I apologize for the intrusion, but I have something to discuss with you. Please do not take offense."

Zhang Shuai'an pointed to the living room sofa: "Sit down and let's talk."

Xiang Huasheng glanced at the room with disdain and muttered, "A terrifying newcomer with a six million yuan salary lives in this kind of shabby house. He can't be doing that well."

Zhang Shuai'an gave Xiang Huasheng a cold glance: "If you can't speak properly, then shut your mouth!"

"What did you say!" Xiang Huasheng was the type to explode at the slightest provocation.

"Hey, Asheng, stop fooling around!" Xiang Huaqiang said lightly. "We're here to talk business."

Xiang Huasheng barely managed to control his temper and slowly sat down, but his gaze toward Zhang Shuai'an still carried a hint of ferocity.

"What do you want to talk about?" Zhang Shuai'an didn't bother to serve them tea and asked directly.

Hearing Zhang Shuai'an speak to them in such a tone, Xiang Huasheng almost lost his temper again, but his brother held him back.

"That's how it is."

Xiang Huaqiang paused for two or three seconds, carefully choosing his words before speaking: "A few days ago, Mr. Zhang's act of bravery was widely praised by the citizens of Hong Kong Island. We greatly admire you."

He glanced at Zhang Shuai'an and then said, "We also greatly admire Mr. Zhang's acting skills. It just so happens that my younger brother and I have also started a film company called Yong Sheng Films."

Xiang Huaqiang's tone was very sincere: "It's just that although my brother and I have been struggling in the film industry for several years, we have never been able to get the hang of it."

Zhang Shuai leaned back on the sofa with a relaxed air, and asked with a smile, "So?"

Xiang Huaqiang looked up at Zhang Shuai'an with a gentle expression: "Our company is planning to produce a new film and sincerely invites Mr. Zhang to play the lead role. We can discuss the remuneration further. As for the production team, we will invite a highly respected director in the industry to helm the project. What do you think, Mr. Zhang?"

Xiang Huasheng, being straightforward, couldn't help but interject, "Handsome boy, we've come with the utmost sincerity!"

"Let's put sincerity aside for now."

Zhang Shuai'an smiled and countered, "But as far as I know, you've made quite a few films over the years, and they've almost all lost money. Why do you persist like this?"

Xiang Huaqiang was taken aback, then nodded frankly: "Mr. Zhang is well-informed. Indeed, we have taken some detours over the years. But that's precisely why we want to invite Mr. Zhang to participate in our film."

He suddenly changed the subject: "If Mr. Zhang is really too busy, then we would appreciate it if you could help us revise the script."

As he spoke, he took out 500,000 yuan in cash from his black leather bag and placed it on the table: "Here is 500,000 yuan, consider it a deposit! To show our sincerity."

At the same time, another small document came out and was handed to Zhang Shuai'an with both hands.

Zhang Shuai'an took the manuscript and found that it was a script, but it was written in a very rough manner. Strictly speaking, it was only a script outline.

The title is "One Knife, One Gun, One Light," which makes absolutely no sense.

Zhang Shuai was stunned for a long time just looking at the title of this movie. What the hell is this movie about?

Then, I scrolled down to the story synopsis and the main characters' backgrounds.

After a quick glance, I realized it was a martial arts film that copied the styles of "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" and "Drunken Master".

The story is no longer told. An old man, skilled in both swords and spears, lived in seclusion in the mountains. Suddenly, a young man from the martial arts world fled to the area and, by chance, became the old man's apprentice. He then followed the old man, practicing swordsmanship and spear techniques in various ways, and after several years, he finally mastered them. The young man then went down the mountain to seek revenge, but was seen by a major villain who captured him on the spot and asked him where he had learned his skills in swordsmanship and spears.

This major villain is called Yilu Guang. His special skill is that he can emit a beam of intense light from his palm, so bright that people can't open their eyes. He is also the old man's apprentice. Years ago, he betrayed the old man and stole this palm-lighting technique.

What followed was a fight between the young martial arts enthusiast and the main villain. Somehow, he won and became famous.

Zhang Shuai'an can only say that screenwriters in Hong Kong really have an easy time making a living; someone actually invests in making such a piece of garbage script.

He spoke his mind: "This thing doesn't even deserve to be called a script; it's not even good enough to be used as toilet paper."

"Therefore, we would really appreciate Mr. Zhang's help!"

Xiang Huaqiang's tone became even more sincere.

Zhang Shuai'an suggested, "You are a small company. If you want to break through in the film industry, you must take an unconventional approach."

"What do you mean?" Xiang Huasheng didn't understand.

Zhang Shuai'an didn't mince words, saying directly, "Whether it's your subject matter or your direction, it's best to be a little different. Don't always try to follow others' lead. Unless you're just trying to use making movies to do something else."

"Absolutely not!" Xiang Huaqiang categorically denied. "We really want to make a name for ourselves in the film industry: Mr. Zhang, please enlighten us!"

'

"Hong Kong audiences have always loved excitement, and the simpler and more straightforward the excitement, the more easily they get excited."

Zhang Shuai'an didn't really intend to give them any pointers; he just wanted to casually send them away: "For example, if you college students go on a picnic in the mountains and encounter a deranged serial killer, you film how that killer tortures the students, making it as cruel as possible, with as much blood as possible—"

Xiang Huaqiang was somewhat skeptical: "Will this really work?"

Zhang Shuai'an said, "Why don't we give it a try and see? Anyway, it doesn't cost you much to make a film. We've been losing money before, so losing money on another one won't be a big deal."

"Great! Let's give it a try!" Xiang Huaqiang's eyes lit up, and then he added, "We still hope you can help us write a script. I no longer trust the scripts written by other screenwriters."

"How about this, I'll tell you a story, and you can find a screenwriter to write it down."

After a moment's thought, Zhang Shuai'an decided to tell them the story outline and character settings of "Fatal Bend".

He certainly wouldn't be able to make these kinds of films himself.

It would be appropriate to let the Xiang brothers handle it.

"Okay," Xiang Huaqiang had no choice but to nod.

"As for the story's setting, you'd better not set it in Hong Kong Island, but in Southeast Asia. Prices there are actually very cheap, so it won't cost much to film there."

Zhang Shuai'an immediately convinced the Xiang brothers that he was a reliable person. "It's fine to send four or five college students to Southeast Asia for tourism or to conduct some kind of scientific research activity. Just find any reason."

"While they were driving, they encountered an accident because the road had collapsed due to the heavy rain a few days prior. They had two options: either find someone nearby to stay with and wait for the road to be repaired and reopened, or take a detour. The group decided to get out of the car and take a detour, but because they had no guide, they ended up going further and further off the beaten path, and they even encountered a few tourists or other people along the way."

"————"

"Deep in the jungle lives a serial killer or cannibal who has already set his sights on them. He defeats them one by one, brutally murdering them in different ways. In the end, only the male protagonist and the prettiest girl remain, defeat the serial killer, and escape to safety."

"The main characters are designed as follows: the male protagonist is intelligent and skilled in martial arts, but he is soft-hearted, so he gets dragged into dangerous situations."

"There should be at least two or three female characters: one big-breasted, brainless vase; one seemingly well-behaved, manipulative woman; and one screaming chicken who is always screaming."

"The character of a serial killer must look like a psychopath at first glance."

"besides----"

The Xiang brothers watched as Zhang Shuai'an spoke eloquently about the story and its setting without pausing for a moment, as if the entire movie already existed in his mind.

In that instant, they felt as if they were listening to celestial music, their ears suddenly cleared.

This is a true master screenwriter.

"Now I truly understand why Boss Shao and Boss Zou were willing to spend three million to hire you!"

Xiang Huaqiang was completely in awe of Zhang Shuai'an.

Even Xiang Huasheng had to retract his previous frivolous attitude and become respectful.

After chatting for a while longer, the two brothers said goodbye and left, satisfied.

Back in their car, they were still shaken.

Xiang Huasheng said in astonishment, "Brother Qiang, who exactly is this Zhang Shuai'an? He's only nineteen years old, but his mind seems to be a movie theater, able to recall any plot at will. There's probably no one like him in all of Hong Kong."

"I don't know." Xiang Huaqiang's eyes were somewhat profound as he slowly said, "This person is indeed extraordinary. An ordinary family could not cultivate someone with such knowledge and skills."

"What do you mean?" Xiang Huasheng shook his head: "If the conditions were good, why would he come to Hong Kong?"

Xiang Huaqiang glanced at his brother: "So, this is what's worth pondering!"

"This—" Xiang Huasheng was immediately speechless.

Xiang Huaqiang licked his lips: "No matter what, just maintain a friendly relationship with him and put aside any other ulterior motives."